Metrorail Silver Line Phase 2 More Than Halfway to Completion

 Phase 2 of construction on Metro’s Silver Line is more than 56 percent complete, according to information released today by the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is overseeing construction of the 11.4-mile Phase 2 extension of the Silver Line from Reston through Dulles Airport to Ashburn. Engineering and design work on the phase began in July 2013, and the project is expected to be complete by 2020. All told, the stretch will include six rail stations; nine entrance pavilions and pedestrian bridges; aerial guideways through Dulles Airport; and 89,000 feet of track.

“Bad weather never really stopped us,” project vice president Charles Stark is quoted as saying regarding construction efforts in recent months.

Station wall work is currently underway at the future Reston Town Center station, while structural steel installation for the vault roof has begun at the future Herndon station, also located in Reston. In addition, piers for pedestrian bridges are being put up. All needed pier caps have been poured, along with 76 percent of deck spans. Construction on the rail yard at Dulles Airport is 46 percent complete, according to project officials.

Work also began in December on a new Herndon Metro parking garage, a county project.

Phase 2 of the Silver Line was originally projected to be completed by late 2018; however, design modifications later pushed that date back.

article source: Reston Now

Easy Updates to Help Your Home Sell

When it comes to selling your house, it’s a lot easier to catch the big repairs than to see the small details. But buyers notice it all, and even one squeaky door can signal issues to them. Here are a few last-minute, easy tweaks that make a big difference.

Clean/Replace Blinds ($5-15):

Dirty blinds are an eyesore, and you can easily clean them with a damp cloth. Broken blinds are easy to replace, and make a huge visual difference. Even knotted-up strings, missing wands and crooked hardware can turn off potential buyers. They see the replacements necessary as the result of poor maintenance. Make it easy for them by running to your local hardware store and grabbing some replacement blinds.

Squeaky Doors and Drawers ($7):

Potential buyers will cringe at the sound of a squeaky door or drawer that you’ve totally tuned out. Grab a $7 can of silicone spray from your local hardware store, and spray down all door hinges and drawer tracks.

With so many drawers and doors be sure to test each and every one. Photo via home on Zillow.

 

Expand the Space (free):

Moving furniture to the edges of a room is an easy fix for making areas seem larger. Hide extra furniture such as ottomans and side tables that crowd areas, and move furniture to the outsides of the walls and rugs. Open blinds and windows to bring in more natural light and visual space. Replace family photographs and artwork with mirrors to reflect light, as well.

Make Sure All Lightbulbs Work ($5-20):

Sometimes closet light bulbs, hallway sconces and other little-used light fixtures get overlooked for dead lightbulbs. You may even have to drag out the ladder for tall fixtures, but buyers check every switch, and the difference in lighting will be noticeable. A dead lightbulb is most likely the cause, but potential buyers may think worse electrical problems are at hand.

Make your house shine by updating your lightbulbs. Photo via Nina Magon on Zillow Digs.

 

Freshen the Air ($5-7):

A quick odor-eliminating spray (an unscented spray that eliminates odors) around the house can keep odors at bay. Candles or any scented spray can set off allergies and only mask odors instead of eliminating them.

 

Pretend Your House is a Hotel (free):

Make the beds, fluff the pillows on beds and couches, and fold blankets and towels neatly. Sweep surfaces and floors clean of clutter.  Neatly arrange all bathroom products, empty the trash, and maybe even put out a fresh hand soap for a spa-like touch.

A clean entryway is not only classy, it also allows for better air flow. Photo via home on Zillow.

 

Corral All Seasonal Decorations (free):

Your eyes probably don’t even see the off-season string of lights in that tree or the unlit Rudolph hiding in the scraggly bushes. But buyers will, so pack up the outdated seasonal touches or throw them out. Even in-season decorations should be kept minimal and easily removable. Dead mums, old pumpkins, past-prime wreaths and garlands all need to be composted or dumped.

 

Check the Front Door ($10-40):

Most of us don’t use our front doors on a regular basis, so it can become an overlooked area. Make sure the surrounding area is swept and the doorbell works. A new, plain doormat or shiny door knocker can make a nice first impression for buyers. Clean the mailbox, too — it’s often caked in grime and spider-webs.


By Natalie Wise on Zillow.com/digs

5 Things That’ll Totally Ruin Your Bathroom Remodel

A clean, well-planned, and stunning bathroom is every homeowner’s goal. But creating it can be a bit of a sticky wicket. All that water, humidity, and artificial lighting, and those tight corners make the space a real challenge. Don’t make it worse by wasting money on materials that won’t withstand the task or will need replacing when they don’t work out. Dodge bad bathroom decisions by avoiding these five things:

#1 Wallpaper

In a high-steam area such as a bathroom, wallpaper may start to peel in a few years, according to some designers. In fact, steam is used to strip old wallpaper off walls. Despite the many photos of stylish, wallpapered bathrooms in magazines, unless it’s a half-bath or guest bath that’s seldom used, skip it. Really want the unique look wallpaper provides? Try a solid vinyl wall covering instead. It won’t allow moisture to seep through.

#2. Laminate Flooring

Love the look and affordability of laminate flooring? Use it in another room. Water and laminate floors don’t mix. Even tiny amounts of water will seep between the planks, causing them to expand, peel, swell, and lift from the floor. Even laminate manufacturers advise against installing in high moisture areas. The good news? There are plenty of other products out there that work extremely well in bathrooms. Take another look at linoleum. It’s eco-friendly, budget-friendly, and comes in a wide variety of looks.

#3 Slippery or Glossy Tile or Stone

Many ceramic, porcelain, and stone floors will become slippery in wet conditions. The more polished a tile, the more likely it will become slippery when wet. Solution: Select your bathroom floor surface carefully, vetting each against slippery conditions. Look for tiles certified to meet slip-resistance standards specified by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

#4 Wall-to-Wall Carpet

Carpet, while soft and comfy, isn’t ideal flooring in a powder room. Not only is the ick factor apparent, especially around the toilet, but mold and mildew can build up, which can cause health issues. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specifically advises against carpeting bathrooms to avoid mold exposure. If you really want the cozy touch of carpet in the bathroom, fluffy bath mats add color and comfort — and can be regularly laundered.

#5 Yellow Paint

When selecting paint colors, remember that color will appear more intense on your bathroom walls than it would in most other rooms, especially if the bathroom relies heavily on artificial lighting.
“In that smaller space, where the mirror multiplies the impact of the lighting, the walls tend to reflect and magnify color from other walls,” says Amy Bell, an interior decorator and owner of Red Chair Home Interiors in Cary, N.C. Be especially wary of yellow or other colors that contain yellow — even neutrals — as yellow can feel brash in a bathroom, and you won’t like what you see in the mirror. Instead, opt for grays with a hint of green or blue, which can feel spa-like.

source:  Houselogic.com

12 Smart Storage Solutions to Reduce Clutter

Incorporate these nifty drawer inserts, pullouts and other innovative ideas to bring organization to your home.

   

The last thing you want after putting all your time and money into a kitchen remodel is to find out that your efforts didn’t do much to curb your clutter habits. The dish soap and sponges appear once again next to the sink. The toaster gets used and never put away. Unopened wine bottles accumulate on the counter.

To prevent those kinds of scenarios, think strategically about your storage, no matter which room you’re remodeling, and put relatively affordable innovations such as drawer inserts and rollouts to good use. Here are a few of my favorite storage solutions for kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms. 

  In the Kitchen:

Inserts. Cabinet inserts and accessories are a common request I see in kitchen remodels. There are in-drawer inserts, such as knife blocks and spice holders, that can be made (or cut down) to custom sizes to fit in any drawer.

There are also rollout inserts, as shown here, which are typically installed in lower cabinets, and roll out to hold a variety of items, such as utensils, pots and pans, and cutting boards.

Don’t have a wine room? No space in the fridge? There are dedicated rollout inserts for storing wine in base cabinets too.

Appliance garages. Also sometimes called appliance closets, these are cabinets designed around size requirements for mixers, blenders, toasters and pretty much any other small appliance you may have and want to store. They put those appliances within easy reach when you need them and help tuck away and hide them when you don’t, keeping your countertops free of clutter.

Drawer inside the trash drawer. Trash drawers are a well-known solution for organization within the kitchen. However, adding a drawer inside the trash drawer (where there is usually wasted space above the cans) is an inventive, hidden way to store things such as trash bags, oven mitts and hand towels.

Tall, skinny drawers. Be creative with otherwise impractical spaces. Tall, skinny drawers have become increasingly popular for their demonstrated utility. Install one on each side of your cooktop to store spices and oils. Or place one next to the sink for dish soaps and other cleaning supplies.

In The Bathroom:

Medicine cabinets. These have come a long way since they were first introduced. Big, chunky wooden pieces that stick out from the wall have been replaced by recessed boxes with mirrors that can smoothly slide open to reveal shelves, lighting, magnifying mirrors and even TVs.

Electrical plugs installed inside the cabinets. These are great for using hair dryers and straighteners while making sure they stay off the counter when they’re not in use. Some companies make drawers and cabinet inserts specifically for this purpose.

Rollouts. Rollouts are more commonly seen in the kitchen, but they can be just as useful in your bathroom. A great place for a rollout is in the cabinet underneath the sink, as shown here. Often, plumbing gets in the way of seeing (and using) all the space in this area. A rollout helps eliminate this problem, making much of the space below easily accessible.

In The Utility Room:

Valet rods. A valet rod is an awesome little piece of hardware that I personally believe is underrated. It can be installed on a wall or the outside of a cabinet and extended when you need to hang something, then put away when you’re all done.

Ironing board drawer insert. Bear with me, because I’ve got to harp on my love of drawer inserts one more time. There are drawer inserts that open to reveal a foldable ironing board, as shown here. Yes, a standard wall cabinet is another storage option, but if you’re a clean freak like me, a more covert solution like this one is too good to pass up.

Of course, this is not an all-inclusive list. Don’t feel dismayed if these solutions don’t work with your remodel. Rather, take inspiration from what’s already out there and create something brand new that suits your exact needs. After all, no one knows what you need and want better than yourself.

source: Houzz.com 

by: Hannah Kasper